“You Are Greater than you know” ~ Mother Teresa

Supporting Local Women & Girls

The mission of the Luverne Area Community Foundation Women’s Giving Circle is to support, educate, empower, and celebrate women and girls in the Rock County area.

Lisa Dinger – RCO

RCO is seeking operational funding to support its school-age transportation services. With the local transportation service no longer able to transport school-age children, RCO stepped in to fill the gap, using a 14-passenger vehicle to transport 36 students, benefiting over 30 families. Despite charging $2 per trip per child, the program has incurred a financial burden, putting RCO in the red by $6,361. The service is essential for families, providing transportation from homes, Kids Rock, and home daycares. With Little Lambs going to a five-day schedule, the demand will increase. Currently, administration and program directors are serving as drivers, but there may be a need to hire external drivers in the future. Any financial assistance to reduce the debt from this program would be greatly appreciated.

Vickie Busswitz – Luverne Public Schools

The goal of this project is to educate students about the dangers of distracted driving. We aim to inform and raise awareness among students in the surrounding communities about the risks associated with distracted driving. Through partnerships with local and state organizations, we plan to provide valuable information and resources. Our objectives include bringing in an outside speaker and presenting a mock accident to illustrate the consequences of distracted driving. We are requesting $500 to cover the cost of the speaker.

Savannah Dinger – Southwest Crisis Center

The Southwest Crisis Center (SWCC) provides essential services for women, children, and families who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, or human trafficking. However, funding for such organizations is currently volatile and uncertain. Last year, SWCC faced a $175,000 budget cut and has been relying on local foundations and community funds. With operational costs rising and funding not keeping pace, there is a critical need for emergency safe housing. SWCC has had to make difficult choices between staffing the office and funding emergency safe housing. In the past year, SWCC served 53 individuals in Rock County, primarily providing emotional support and safe housing/safety services. Emergency housing services go beyond just providing a hotel room; they ensure survivors and their families have food, clothes, and other necessities. The request is for $2,000 to help fill this gap and ensure that survivors and their children have access to safe housing, food, clothes, and baby needs in emergencies.

Becky Rahm – Rock County Food Shelf – Feminine Hygiene Supplies

I am seeking $2,000 in funding from the Luverne Women’s Giving Circle to provide consistent access to feminine hygiene products at the Rock County Food Shelf. Through your volunteer work, I’ve noticed that these essential items are not always available. Access to menstrual products is a basic need, not a luxury, and ensuring that women and girls in the community can access them regularly supports their health, dignity, and well-being. The funds would be used to purchase and maintain a steady supply of feminine hygiene products, estimated at $8 per package, serving around 20 individuals each month. This amount would help ensure reliable access throughout the year, with any surplus stored for future use to prevent waste.

Marj Mauer – Backpack Program (also submitted by Josey Arends)

The Rock County Food Shelf backpack program provides food for students to bring home every weekend. Currently, the food shelf has enough funds to continue this service through January. However, due to rising food prices, they need an additional $15,000 to continue providing backpacks from February through May. A grant of $3,000 to $5,000 would be helpful to sustain this program, which ensures that children do not go hungry when they are not in school.

Sherri Thompson – Rock County Ag Society

The Rock County Ag Society is seeking funds to purchase a private, ADA accessible nursing pod to provide a safe, comfortable, and hygienic space for nursing mothers. This project aims to support inclusivity, community health, and the well-being of mothers and children. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, access to lactation spaces contributes to increased breastfeeding duration, reduced infant illness, and improved maternal well-being. The proposed nursing pod will include a private, lockable space for one mother at a time, comfortable seating, a small work surface, electrical outlets for breast pumps and devices, proper ventilation, and easy-to-clean surfaces. The pod will be ADA compliant to ensure accessibility for all mothers. A grant of $7,000 would help fund this collaborative project.

Madison Bormann and Cicely Crabtree – Rock County Food Shelf – Diapers

The Rock County Food Shelf is seeking $5,000 in funding to purchase diapers in the sizes most needed by the families they serve. Although they receive some donations, these are often insufficient and sometimes not the right size. The food shelf occasionally holds drives, but these do not fully meet the demand. They assist approximately 20 families per month who need diapers. The requested funds will help ensure that families receive appropriately sized diapers for their children.

“You are greater than you know”

~ Mother Teresa